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Man killed by Broomfield police officer struggled with mental illness

Incident happened Thursday in Aspen Creek

By Megan Quinn Enterprise Staff Writer

Posted:
06/29/2012 12:57:03 PM MDT

Updated:
06/29/2012 03:31:04 PM MDT

SHOT BY OFFICERS: Kyle Miller was shot and killed by Broomfield police Thursday after he pointed what his family said was an Airsoft gun at officers.
Photo courtesy of Miller family?
(
courtesy photo
)

A man killed by police Thursday in Broomfield's Aspen Creek subdivision long struggled with mental illness, his family said.

Kyle Miller, 21, was shot by police Thursday morning after pointing a gun at officers near the intersection of Aspen Street and Durango Avenue. The family said they warned officers the gun was a plastic Airsoft gun.

"I did everything I could, everything I knew was right to do to try and stop it," said his mother, Cheryl Miller.

The family had called 911 early that morning, because Kyle had a knife and was trying to harm himself, she said. Kyle struggled with schizoaffective bipolar disorder, which was a factor in him recently losing his job as an EMT. Cheryl Miller said the disappointment caused him to hurt himself.

Broomfield Police Chief Thomas Deland said the department cannot release more information, as the investigation is ongoing.

"Legally I'm not permitted, nor are any of my staff, to comment," he said.

The Adams/ Broomfield Critical Incident Team is conducting an independent investigation of the incident. The involved officers were placed be on administrative leave, which is a standard policy, Deland said.

Deland planned to meet with the officers on Friday to make the determination on when they will return to duty, based on his evaluation of the officers and that of a police psychologist. They could return to duty before the Critical Incident Team's investigation is complete, he said.

Miller said she does not bear ill will toward the officers who shot her son.

"No one goes to work in the morning wanting to shoot someone," she said.

Yet Miller said the tragic situation highlights the need for a change in how law enforcement and the general public respond to mental illness issues. Police had come to their house several times before, and were familiar with Kyle's mental health background, she said. Her younger son, who called 911 Thursday morning, had clearly told dispatch that Kyle had a gun that was a plastic toy, not a weapon.

"The system is broken. It's just broken," she said.

She added that the family had pushed to hospitalize their son on several occasions because of self-destructive behavior, but the Boulder mental health center had not recommended it.

Barbara Ryan, CEO of Mental Health Partners, which serves Boulder and Broomfield counties, said she could not comment on Miller's health background because of privacy rules, or even confirm he sought treatment through their services.

"We can say that we assess these kinds of situations very carefully," she said.

Family friend Virginia Ward said the Millers repeatedly sought to find the best treatment for their son.

"I've know Kyle for well over 10 years ... he was not a mentally deranged man. The family did everything they could to save his life. There is no way Kyle was a threat to the community," Ward said.

Miller said there was more to her son than mental illness. He was a dedicated Christian, who felt drawn to those who struggled. He often handed out small porcelain frogs to homeless people and asked to pray with them. The frogs symbolized the acronym "Fully Rely On God."

He also was involved at Flatirons Community Church, where he was a youth leader for several years.

"Kyle was so loving and compassionate, and always aware of those around him. He wanted to help the outcasts, because he knew he was one of them," she said.

Ward said Miller was the best friend to her 21-year-old son, John, who has duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rapidly worsening form of muscular dystrophy.

"It's a very significant challenge and Kyle never turned away from that," she said.

Miller had recently completed training at Front Range Community College to become an EMT. It was his life's dream to have that job, his mother said.

Yet depression and mental illness got in the way once he was hired this spring as an EMT in the south-metro area. He and his supervisor agreed the job was not a fit for him after just three weeks, she said.

"I think that is where he lost all hope. ... He had a choice to drop the gun, but he was in a tormented place mentally," she said.

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